Kokomo is Games mascot

The Mascot for the 2015 Pacific Games is the Hornbill commonly known as the Kokomo. Nicknamed Tura, the Kokomo, the Games Mascot was officially launched today by the Chairperson of the Games Organising Committee Emma Waiwai. The name was chosen for the friendly games coming to our city Port Moresby and the people of Papua New Guinea who are ever friendly wherever they are. The Kokomo is a long beak bird commonly found in the Pacific and Asia region and is most often tamed and kept as a pet. The species chosen is unique to Papua New Guinea The mascot was launched at the Tubusereia Primary School, who sent in the winning entry by Grade 3 student Taka Segore whose submission scored the highest to win the competition. The Games Organising Committee Board selected the winning entry after an expert panel of judges selected the top five from a total of over 250 entries sent in from schools throughout the country. The judges went through the entries and rated them based on the following features: unique to PNG and or cultural identity, functionality, originality, emotional attachment and whether entries were consistent with the overall entry requirements for the competition. The winning school received K10,000 while the winning student received a free Sumatin account with K500 courtesy of Bank South Pacific, the official sponsors for the Games. The four runners-up received free Sumatin accounts with K250 from BSP. All top five students will also receive promotional gift packs from BSP. The mascot competition was launched in October by the Sports and 2015 Pacific Games Minister Justin Tkatchenko to find the official mascot for the 2015 Pacific Games. Yesterday also marked 500 days to go before Port Moresby City hosts the 2015 Pacific Games in July 2015.